Concussions in Youth Athletes - Alabama

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Alabama:

Governor Robert Bentley signed HB 108 into law on June 9, 2011. HB 108 can be found at section 22-11E-1 through 22-11E-2 of the Alabama Code under the title dealing with health, mental health and environmental control laws. (Ala. Code § 22-11E-1 through § 22-11E-2).

This law requires sports or recreational organizations to develop concussion guidelines, provide concussion training and education to parents/guardians and athletes, and requires the parents/guardian to sign a concussion information sheet annually. The law also requires that coaches be trained about concussions. Finally, any youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed from the game or practice and may not return to play until evaluated by a licensed doctor and receives written clearance.

The terms “sport” and “recreational organization” are not defined in this statue or anywhere else in the Code.

The official versions of sections 22-11E-1 through 22-11E-2 are not currently available online as an external link, but may be view online at: http://www.alabama.gov/sliverheader/Welcome.do?url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/ALISNetHome.html by clicking the left tab labeled “Code of ALA”, then click “view” in the on the left, click on Title 22 on the left, then click Title I on main page and page down to Chapter 11 E clicking on the link to view either section .

On January 23 and February 14, 2012, HB 50 and HB 308 were introduced to amend Section 22-11E-2. No action has been taken yet or in committee. The amendment proposed by HB 50 would required a youth athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion to wait 7 days to return to play after removal from competition due to a suspected concussion.

The text of HB 308 would preclude return to play on the day of the injury and would make the law applicable to local school systems as well.

The text of HB 50 is available online at:

http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ViewBillsStatusACASLogin.asp?BillNumber=HB50 (click of box containing “HB308” and then view on menu bar at the top of the page).

HB 308 is available online at:

http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ViewBillsStatusACASLogin.asp?BillNumber=HB308 (click of box containing “HB308” and then view on menu bar at the top of the page).